Page 21 - Gwen Landsberry - Eulogies

The whole family attended church in Junee Reefs every Sunday, getting
there by car and horse. I remember Frank and I riding on the back of a
utility to my first communion- hanging on tight with my veil flying in the
wind! Religion was just a part of our lives and we were surrounded by
nuns, priests and Catholic people – particularly in Sydney. I don’t
remember having strong feelings about my religion. Anne was different.
From the time she was a little girl she wanted to be a nun. Dad wouldn’t
let her join until she was 18.

The older children were in school in Wagga, boarding. So, I was 10 when
I started to drive the sulky to school, responsible for the younger ones.
I drove with Claire and Anne up top, but Reg had to sit underneath. It
took about 20 minutes in the morning to harness Nancy or Jill to the
Sulky and then about 45 minutes to drive to school. We went to school
rain, hail or shine, often with Jack Frosts hanging off our eyebrows.
“Don’t ever cross the creek if the water is above the black top of the
stump”, Dad would say. One day it was just below the top of the stump
and I decided to cross. It was so hard, and Nancy battled to get across.
The waters were fast, and I was scared.

In winter Mum had the fire on and cocoa waiting for us after the long
drive home from school. We were at a distance where we didn’t have to
go to school, but Dad wanted us to have an education. The Department
of Education agreed to pay for the upkeep of our sulky so we could get
to school. It was good for them too because Junee Reefs School had to
have a minimum of 12 children to stay open. Once we 4 youngest left
and moved with the family to Sydney, the school had to close!

I loved our home. I’d drive the sulky out the front gate, and could look
across a couple of paddocks to the McKay’s farm. Left turn from the gate
and down the dirt road to get the mail and bread, then around and up
the path behind the house toward the Heffernens where Jack would be
shearing with the other boys in season. I remember heading off to
school, opening the big gate, over the hill and down to the main road. It
seemed a long way until we turned down toward ‘Slicker’ Hancocks.
Then over Lake Noorla – always had to watch out in flood times, turned
right and chugged along for ages until finally a left turn and school.